National Get Outdoors (GO) Day is June 9

June 6, 2012 by Justin Leighty
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Participants from federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and the recreation industry are again teaming up to host the 5th Annual National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day) on June 9 to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun at sites across the nation.

According to a press release, these diverse partners will offer opportunities for American families to experience traditional and non-traditional types of outdoor activities. Prime goals of the day are reaching currently underserved populations and first-time visitors to public lands, and reconnecting our youth to the great outdoors.

Each GO Day event will offer a mix of information centers and “active fun” areas – places where guests, and especially kids, can use a fishing pole, go geocaching, help pitch a tent and more. The sites will provide photo opportunities with characters like Smokey Bear, Woodsy Owl and other interesting creatures. Many sites also feature areas that focus on other aspects of healthy living, including sustainability and good nutrition.

In addition to the GO Day events, participants will be invited to nearby follow-up activities called EchO events occurring throughout the summer, which include introductions to mountain biking and fly-fishing, hikes with rangers to see wildlife, kayaking and rafting and much more.

The pilot effort of National Get Outdoors Day was launched on June 14, 2008. Last year, over 50 official GO Day sites across the nation from Anacostia Park in Washington, D.C., to the Big Bear Discovery Center in the San Bernardino National Forest in California welcomed thousands of new faces to the joy and benefits of the great outdoors.